Aquino to lead Barasoain Independence rites

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – President Aquino will lead the flag raising ceremony for the 114th anniversary of Philippine independence at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan on June 12.

Last year, President Aquino led the rites at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, where Aguinaldo first unfurled the Philippine flag and proclaimed the country’s independence from Spanish colonizers on June 12, 1898.

The regional office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said yesterday Barasoain Church was chosen to be one of the two venues of the flag raising rites in Central Luzon.

The other site is the Pamintuan Mansion here, where Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez will lead the Independence Day rites.

“Founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1859, the Barasoain Church was where the country’s first constitution was drafted in 1898 – the first free Asian nation to do so. The Philippines’ premiere constitution took effect January on the following year,” the PIA said.

The PIA added that the Barasoain’s convent, the Universidad Cientifico-Literaria de Filipinas, became the country’s first state university. 

“This tertiary institution paved the way for the establishment of the present day University of the Philippines in 1908,” it said.

Don Mariano Pamintuan built the Pamintuan mansion in 1890 as a wedding gift to his son.

Gen. Antonio Luna moved his army’s headquarters in the mansion in March 1899 after the Americans occupied Malolos, Bulacan. Aguinaldo transferred the seat of his government there after three months and led the first and only public Independence Day celebration under his administration.

Gen. Arthur McArthur also used the Pamintuan residence as headquarters in 1901.